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Quote of the Day. "One was rubbing a peach along his face, and I said, 'It's supposed to feel like that.' Another was breathing into the peach, and I said, 'It's supposed to smell like that.' Another was biting into the peach, and the juice was running down his face and arms, and I said, 'It's supposed to taste like that.' In a country of plenty, everybody should have the experience of tasting the bounty." Chef Tony Geraci, director of food and nutrition for Baltimore City Schools, on the reaction of second-graders eating fresh peaches for the first time in their lives after he brought in 40,000 pounds of tree-ripened, Maryland-grown peaches for school lunches. (USA Today)
RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Mass. ministers on mission to stand up for immigrants "It was the first day of Arizona's controversial new immigration law, and 'America's Toughest Sheriff' had scheduled a noontime sweep of illegal immigrants. But two Massachusetts ministers traveled 2,300 miles to interrupt, even if it meant a night in Joe Arpaio's jail."
For Mosque Sponsors, Early Missteps Fueled Storm "The organizers built support among some Jewish and Christian groups, and even among some families of 9/11 victims, but did little to engage with likely opponents. More strikingly, they did not seek the advice of established Muslim organizations experienced in volatile post-9/11 passions and politics."
Poll: Young Hispanics less likely to be Catholic "The poll of 1,500 Latino adults also found significant divisions on social issues such as same-sex unions and abortion, along lines of age, language and whether one is Catholic or Protestant."
Lower East Side Has Less to Offer Jesuits Who Teach the Poor "Founded in the early 1970s to educate poor boys, Nativity Mission Center is considering a move to the Bronx as its neighborhood turns deluxe."
During Ramadan, Muslims reach out to foster understanding "Gesturing at cameras in the room during a recent Friday sermon at his Pembroke Pines, Fla., mosque, Shafayat Mohamed shared his solution for turning what Muslims are calling a tide of anti-Islamic sentiment: Throw the doors wide open -- online."
NEWS AT HOME
Jobs Bill Passed. President Obama signs $26 billion jobs bill to aid state payrolls "President Obama approved a final spurt of spending Tuesday to shore up the sluggish recovery, signing into law a $26 billion plan to save the jobs of thousands of teachers and other government workers." House Passes $26 Billion in State Aid "The House interrupted its summer recess on Tuesday to approve $26 billion in aid to school districts and states to prevent large-scale layoffs of teachers and public employees and to engage in another partisan fight over policy priorities."
Immigration. 'Tea party' groups plan Arizona rally against illegal immigration "'Tea party' groups are planning a large rally on Sunday in Arizona, near the Mexican border, to support both the state's hard-line stance on illegal immigration and the political campaign of the local talk show host who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)." Border security bill OK'd in House "In a rare moment of bipartisanship, the House approved $600 million yesterday to pay for more surveillance drones and about 1,500 more agents along the troubled Mexican border." Fingerprinting program now includes all border counties "Immigration officials now have access to the fingerprints of every inmate booked into jail in all 25 U.S. counties along the Mexican border, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday, touting the program as a way of identifying and deporting 'criminal aliens.'"
Oil Spill. Storms delay completion of relief well to seal damaged BP oil well in gulf "Approaching storms forced crews to suspend drilling the final stretch of a relief well aimed at shooting a permanent underground plug into BP's busted oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, the government's point man for the disaster said Tuesday." Oil cleanup comes with tensions in this Louisiana town "Grand Isle, La. -- BP pledged to rid this semi-tropical coast resort's sensitive shorelines of oil -- to 'make things right,' as the company put it. But as the cleanup work drags on, BP's efforts have left the community at odds, heightening racial tensions and pitting neighbor against neighbor in disputes over money."
Primaries. Colorado Race Could Reassure Obama and Democrats "Tuesday, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, a Democrat who had hitched his star to the fortunes of President Obama, survived a bitter primary challenge." Primary night yields good news for Obama, Dems "Republicans, meanwhile, were left with several new reasons to wonder whether all the favorable national trends showing up in polls are enough to overcome local candidates who are inspiring little confidence about their readiness for the general election 12 weeks from now."
Passing-Former Sen. Ted Stevens. Ted Stevens, 86; longtime GOP senator showered funds on Alaska "Former senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, 86, who funneled billions of dollars to his home state over six terms in office and became one of the most powerful and combative federal legislators of his generation, died of injuries suffered in a plane crash Monday in southwest Alaska." 'Uncle Ted' Stevens helped shape Alaska "Ted Stevens died Monday the way Alaskans die, in a plane crash in the wilds of the state he devoted his life to. At 86, he was the last giant of statehood and a major architect of the Alaska that emerged from its territorial history."
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Afghanistan. Afghan troops hit 240,000 goal early "NATO has reached its goal of expanding the size of Afghanistan's army and police to 240,000 three months ahead of schedule, achieving a key measurement that will be used to gauge progress in the war."
Iraq. State Dept. faces skyrocketing costs as it prepares to expand role in Iraq "As the last U.S. combat troops prepare to leave Iraq this month, the State Department is struggling to implement an expanded mission that it has belatedly realized it might not be able to afford." U.S. and Iraqi Interests May Work Against Pullout "In a recent speech President Obama took credit for delivering on his promise to end the official combat mission on schedule, and vowed to meet America's next deadline of moving all American forces off Iraqi soil by the end of 2011 ... The reality in Iraq may defy that deadline, because many American and Iraqi officials deem the American presence to be in each nation's interest." Fears of al
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